How does biography differ from history?

While biography is sometimes treated as a branch of history, the two are distinct forms of literature.1

The primary difference lies in their scope and focus:
* History typically deals in generalizations regarding a specific period, a group of people, or an institution.1
* Biography focuses on the particulars of a single human being, seeking to re-create their life through available evidence.21

Despite these differences, both fields are deeply concerned with the past and share a reliance on the rigorous hunting, evaluation, and selection of sources. In this regard, both function as a craft requiring the objective testing of evidence. A biographer’s specific challenge involves navigating gaps in the record or managing an abundance of materials to present a life as it unfolds, whereas a historian’s task is to synthesize broader societal or institutional trends.1